a shot of our last workshop
Next week, 25-29 April, we’ll be hosting another Wolofal workshop. I’ll be teaching a group of interested Senegalese Christians and missionaries how to read and write Wolof and other Senegalese languages in Arabic script.
Pray for good stamina for all of us during this intense week-long workshop and for the families and ministries of these fellow workers as they take time out to equip themselves further for ministry.
The new Android Wolof Bible app
Last week was the Wolof Consultation, a yearly event where those working among the Wolof get together to talk over how things are going, to exchange ideas, and to encourage each other. I was able to present several things, including the newly published Wolofal (Wolof language written in Arabic script) Genesis and Psalms.
But I was equally excited to be able to share the brand-new Wolof Bible apps – one for use on Android devices, the other for use online with any web browser. SIL has released an app builder tool which makes it very easy to share scripture digitally. The Android app that I made with their tool was quite easy to put together and has the potential to reach a wide audience. If you have an Android phone or tablet, you can check it out on the Google Play Store right now by clicking here or by clicking on the screenshot at the right.
The new Wolof Bible Web app
We also released an online version of the Wolof Bible app that is readable in a web browser, again made possible through SIL’s app builder tool. You can check it out by clicking here or on the image to the left.
These apps are free online, so they make God’s word accessible all over the globe in an easy-to-carry and convenient way. It’s also an advantage for those living in environments that are hostile to the Christian faith who might be wary of owning a paper Bible.
And – there’s even more good news! – the Wolof Bible translation team gave me permission to include many books in the apps which have been approved for publication but never before published in any form. Appearing for the first time in these apps are the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Amos, & Jonah! These books join the previously available complete books of Genesis, Psalms, Proverbs, and the New Testament.
How many times have we wanted to share a scripture or Bible story in Wolof only to find that part of the Bible has not yet been translated? How many times have we seen, or done (!), spur-of-the moment Bible translations during a sermon being translated from French to Wolof? What a blessing to have so many more books at our fingertips! Praise the Lord for this technology and pray that these Wolof Bible apps will have a wide readership and bring hope to new readers of the Book.
In the print shop
At the end of last month I was able to pick up the first 700 copies of Wolofal Psalms! You might remember that the first time the print shop printed Psalms, a corrupt Mac ruined the printing, and the whole lot had to be destroyed, including 1,000 bound copies. The Mac was so corrupt they had to get rid of the machine in the end. But this time after completely starting over, Psalms turned out beautifully. Next week I will pick up the remaining 1,300 copies. At the same time, I will approve a sample print-out and the plates for Exodus. We just finished the last verification read-through of Exodus last week.
Later in the week I will be at the Wolof Consultation in Dakar. This is an annual gathering for those working among the Wolof. I’ll be doing a short presentation on all the new materials available this year including Genesis, Psalms, and the upcoming Wolof (Roman script) Bible web app and Android app.
Praise the Lord for this good progress and pray for the next steps with Exodus.
In other news, today is our eighteenth wedding anniversary! We praise God for these good years together and for all that he’s allowed us to see and do in them.
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